Temporomandibular Joint Spaces and Pharyngeal Airway Dimensions Across Sagittal Skeletal Malocclusion Classes: A Retrospective CBCT Study

This study aimed to compare temporomandibular joint (TMJ) spaces and linear pharyngeal airway dimensions across skeletal Class I, II, and III malocclusions. This retrospective cross-sectional CBCT study included 60 adults, with 20 individuals in each skeletal class. Anterior, superior, and posterior joint spaces were measured on the left TMJ only. Group comparisons were performed using Welch?s analysis of variance with Games-Howell post hoc tests for TMJ measurements and Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn-Bonferroni comparisons for pharyngeal dimensions. Anterior joint space did not differ significantly among the groups (p = 0.120), whereas superior and posterior joint spaces showed significant differences (both p < 0.001), chiefly between Class II and the other groups. Nasopharyngeal dimensions differed significantly among the skeletal classes (H = 21.777; p < 0.001), with Classes II and III exhibiting greater dimensions than Class I. However, oropharyngeal dimensions showed no statistically significant differences (p = 0.549). The findings indicate that TMJ superior and posterior joint spaces and nasopharyngeal airway width vary according to skeletal class. However, these cross-sectional measurements do not establish a direct association between TMJ spaces and airway dimensions or indicate functional impairment.